Lighting system, and method for fiber optic and area illumination

Abstract: A method and apparatus for lighting optical fibers as well as surrounding regions includes a generally vertically oriented housing (11) including a light source (17) positioned near the upper end (15) of the housing (11) for directing radiant flux toward the ends of a plurality of optical fibers (35) and for reflecting remaining portions of the radiant flux from the light source (17) in a lateral direction into the surrounding regions. A light reflector (19) is positioned in the housing (11) for laterally reflecting a portion of the radiant flux, and includes a central aperture (21) in the reflector to pass the central portion of the radiant flux therethrough to the ends of the optical fibers (35). The same reflector (19) serves as a baffle on the lower side thereof to deflect moving air within the housing (11) around the ends of the optical fibers (35) and through the aperture (21) in the reflector (19) toward the light source (17). A fan (37) disposed below the baffle (19) in the housing (11) moves ambient air through an opening in the lower portion (13) of the housing (11) and around the ends of the optical fibers (35) and through the aperture (21) in the reflector (19) toward the light source (17) for venting thereafter through the upper portion (41) of the housing. The reflector and baffle (19) also supports the optical fibers (35) in alignment with the central portion of the radiant flux from the light source (17) through the aperture (21) in the reflector (19).

Description: Field of the Invention This invention relates to light sources for optical fibers and more particularly to light sources for exterior installation to provide aesthetically-pleasing area lighting as well as to supply high-intensity light flux to optical fibers. Background of the Invention Optical fibers are commonly used to provide aesthetically-pleasing lighting effects to highlight features and borders of buildings, landscapes, swimming pools, and the like. These exterior lighting installations typically require waterproof light sources that must be located close to the features or borders that are to be highlighted by light emitted from the optical fibers in order to preserve high intensity illumination over the length of the optical fibers. Lighting of this type commonly relies upon plastic optical fibers for low cost, flexibility, and immunity from weather conditions, but such fibers require significant cooling at the input ends in order to avoid melting and deterioration attributable to high-intensity light sources operated in close proximity to the fibers. Certain known light sources for exterior installations to provide light flux to optical fibers rely upon a pair of windows that are interposed between fiber ends and light source and that are spaced apart along the direction of illumination supplied to the ends of optical fibers in order to pass cooling air between the spaced windows (See, for example, U.S. Patent No. 4,763,984). Another example is for instance given in WO-A-9 111 743 in which radiators are added to the light guide coupler to improve heat dissipation. One disadvantage of light sources of this type is that the composite unit is unsightly and typically must be installed at substantial distance away from the features or borders that are to be lighted by the optical fibers which are illuminated by such light source. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the present invention, a 'bollard'-style lighting fixture is arranged in substantially vertical orientation for installation in a region or locale that is to be generally illuminated and that is close to the features or borders which are to be illuminated by optical fibers that receive light flux from such lighting fixture. A high-intensity light source is disposed near the upper end of the fixture to direct illumination downward toward a baffle and reflector structure which includes a central aperture that aligns with the ends of a plurality of optical fibers. A central portion of the light flux from the light source is oriented to pass through the central aperture to the ends of the optical fibers, and another portion of the light flux is reflected from the upper surface of the baffle and reflector structure in a lateral direction relative to the vertical orientation of the lighting fixture into the surrounding area that is to be illuminated. The lower surface, or surfaces, of the baffle and reflector structure tapers toward the central aperture to concentrate the flow of air moving upwardly within the lighting fixture around the ends of optical fibers that are positioned near the central aperture in the baffle and reflector structure. A fan is positioned below the baffle and reflector structure in order to move air upwardly through the lighting fixture from an inlet port near the lower end of the lighting fixture, around the ends of optical fibers near the central aperture, and through the central aperture toward the light source. The cooling air at elevated temperature from within the lighting fixture may be vented through a weatherproof dome near the upper end of the lighting fixture. The baffle and reflector structure may be segregated into several segments relative to the central aperture to provide a convenient installation and mounting structure for retaining the ends of the optical fibers in alignment with the central aperture in the baffle and reflector structure through which the central portion of light flux from the light source passes. Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the lighting fixture according to the present invention; Figure 2 is side view of the lighting fixture of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of a portion of the baffle and reflector structure of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a pictoral view of an alternative embodiment of the lighting fixture of the present invention including a round housing and conical baffle. Description of Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown front and side views, respectively, of a bollard-style lighting fixture 9 that is generally vertically oriented within a housing 11 that extends from a lower end 13 to an upper end 15. A light source 17 is disposed near the upper end 15 of the housing 11 to direct radiant flux downwardly into the housing 11. This light source 17 may include a conventional high-intensity, low-voltage halogen-type filament bulb, or a high-intensity, gas-discharge lamp, as desired. A baffle and reflector structure 19 having a central aperture 21 therein is positioned below the light source 17 to pass a central portion of the radiant flux from the light source 17, and to reflect a portion of the radiant flux from the light source 17 in a lateral direction relative to the vertical orientation of the housing 11. The radiant flux which is reflected from the upper surface of the baffle and reflector structure 19 is emitted through the optical ports 23 near the upper end 15 of the housing 11, and the upper surfaces of the baffle and reflector structure 19 may be positioned at approximately 45° relative to a central vertical axis of the housing to provide efficient lateral reflection of radiant flux through the optical ports 23. Of course, the baffle and reflector structure 19 may have a general pyramid shape for disposition within a generally square housing 11, and may have a general cone shape for disposition within a cylindrical housing 11. The central aperture 21 at the upper end of the baffle and reflector structure 19 is substantially aligned with a central axis of the housing 11 to pass therethrough a central portion of the radiant flux from the light source 17. Of course, the light source 17 may include a reflector 25 that is shaped in conventional manner to focus light through the central aperture 21 and onto the ends of optical fibers mounted near the aperture, as later described herein in greater detail. Thus, a predominant portion of the radiant flux from the light source 17 can be focused through the aperture 21 onto ends of optical fibers mounted near the aperture 21, and another portion of the radiant flux from the light source 17 may be reflected from the upper surfaces of the baffle and reflector structure 19 through the optical ports 23 to the adjacent surroundings. For this purpose, the upper surfaces of the baffle and reflector structure 19 may be polished or spectrally reflective, as desired. Optional color filters may be supported 26 adjacent the light source 17. In addition, a color wheel 27 with drive motor 29 may be interposed between the light source 17 and the baffle and reflector structure 19 to provide aesthetically-pleasing colors of light reflected into the surroundings and focused onto the ends of the bundle 35 of optical fibers. Conventional electrical components and circuits including a transformer 31 (e.g., step-up for gas-discharge lamp 17, or step-down for halogen filament lamp 17), and thermal safety cut-out, and fan control, and power switch 34, and the like, may be suitably mounted within the housing 11, as desired. Referring now to the top view of Figure 3, there is shown one bifurcated portion of the baffle and reflector structure 19 that is substantially parted along a central vertical plane, and one such bifurcated portion, as illustrated in Figure 1, includes integrally-formed tabs 33 lying substantially in the central vertical plane to provide convenient mounting support for a bundle 35 of optical fibers that is thereby retained in alignment with the central aperture 21 to receive the predominant portion of radiant flux from light source 17 focused on the ends of the bundle 35 of optical fibers. The bundle 35 of optical fibers may be routed through the housing 11, as through the plenum 43 past the fan 37 that is positioned above an air inlet port 39 near the lower end 13 of the housing 11, to pass below ground level to selected fiber optic lighting locations. The upper end of the housing 11 may be suitably weather protected by dome 41 to provide an air vent in conventional manner that inhibits incursion of water into the interior of the housing 11. Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a pictoral diagram of an alternative embodiment of the present invention assembled within a generally cylindrical outer housing 51. Of course, the outer housing 51 may also have any suitable polygonal shape such as pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, and the like, for aesthetic purposes. The outer housing 51 is secured at its lower end in suitable manner to the ground or supporting structure via a mounting bracket 53, and the upper end of the outer housing supports a weather dome 55 that keeps rain out, but passes cooling air from within the outer housing 51. A step-up or step-down transformer 56 and associated circuitry for the lamp 61, fan 57 and color-wheel motor 71 are mounted in the lower portion of the outer housing 51. The fan 57 maybe disposed in the lower portion of the outer housing 51 that may be partitioned suitably to create a pressure differential across the fan 57 to force ambient air to flow into the outer housing 51 and through the baffle and reflector structure 59, toward the lamp 61, and out through the dome 55. A cable 63 of optical fibers may be routed through the lower end of the outer housing 51 to a mounting structure 65 that supports the ends of the optical fibers at the focal point of the lamp 61 near the aperture 66 in the baffle and reflector structure 59. Thus, cooling air is forced via fan 57 to flow into the outer housing 51, around the ends of the optical fibers of cable 63 in the region of the aperture 66 in the baffle and reflector structure 59, around the lamp 61, and out through the dome 55 to the environment. A portion of the light flux from lamp 61 is focused onto the ends of the optical fibers of the cable 63 that are supported near the aperture 66 in the baffle and reflector structure 59, and another portion of the light flux from lamp 61 reflects from the upper reflective surface of the baffle and reflector structure 59 in a substantially lateral direction through the perimeter lens 67 to provide local illumination. A color wheel 69 and associated drive motor 71 may be disposed within a portion of the light flux from lamp 61 to cyclically alter the color of illumination of the optical fibers, as desired. In each embodiment of the present invention, the baffle and reflector structure 19,59 may be conveniently formed of sheet metal, and the lower surface thereof thus forms an upwardly-tapered conical or pyramidal structure that directs upwardly moving air around the ends of the bundle 35,63 of optical fibers which is positioned near the central aperture 21,66. In this way, the ends of plastic optical fibers in bundle 35,63 that are vulnerable to melting or rapid deterioration at elevated temperatures attributable, for example, to the focused radiant flux from the light source 17,61, may be cooled by the flow of air that is concentrated around such ends during movement of the air through the central aperture 21,66 toward the light source 17,61. The ends of the optical fibers in bundle 35,63 may be positioned at or above or below the edges of the central aperture for maximum cooling by the air moving through the aperture of the baffle and reflector structure 19,59. The light source 17,61 is then also cooled by the moving air before it is vented from the housing 11,51 via the dome 41,55. The fan 37,57 is disposed on a plenum 43 in the housing to draw in ambient cooling air through inlet ports 39 and to create a pressure differential across the fan 37,57 to move air upwardly through the housing 11,51 and through the central aperture 21,66 in the baffle and reflector structure 19,59. Of course, the fan 37,57 may be disposed above the baffle and reflector structure 19,59 to draw air through the central aperture 21,66, and the vertical orientation of the components of the present invention may also be inverted to provide lateral emission of a portion of the radiant flux from light source 17,61 through optical ports located near the lower end of the housing, with the light source 17,61, baffle and reflector structure 19,59, fan 37,57 and inlet port 39 in the same relative, but inverted, orientation. Alternatively, the light source 17,61 may be oriented to direct light flux upwardly, towards ends of optical fibers in a bundle 35,63 thereof that are routed out of the housing 11,51 in a convenient manner. In such orientation of the light source 17,61 and ends of the optical fibers, the baffle and reflector structure 19,59 may be inverted to taper upwardly and outwardly on the reflector surface, and to taper downwardly and inwardly toward the central aperture on the baffle surface. A fan may be oriented within the housing to draw or force air through the central aperture 21,66 in this alternative configuration. Therefore, the lighting fixture of the present invention efficiently utilizes the total radiant flux from a light source to illuminate surrounding areas as well as to supply radiant flux to a bundle of optical fibers in a manner that concentrates air flow within the lighting fixture to protect the optical fibers from operation at elevated temperatures.

Claims: Lighting apparatus for optical fibers (35) including a light source (17, 61) within a housing (11, 51) characterized in that the housing is disposed in vertical orientation between upper and lower ends and includes an aperture positioned near an end to admit ambient air into the housing; in that a baffle (19, 59) is disposed within the housing (11, 51) near the light source (17, 61) with a first surface thereof oriented to reflect a portion of radiant flux from the light source toward a lateral direction relative to the vertical orientation of the housing, and the baffle includes an aperture (21, 66) for passing radiant flux from the light source (17, 61) therethrough; in that an optical port (23) is oriented in the housing to emit the reflected portion of radiant flux; and in that the optical fibers (35, 63) are secured within the housing with ends thereof positioned in alignment with the aperture (21, 66) in the baffle (19, 53). Lighting apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by a fan (37, 57) disposed within the housing (11, 51) relative to the baffle (19, 59) to direct air through the aperture (21, 66) in the baffle to concentrate the flow of air around ends of the optical fibers (35, 63) positioned near the aperture in the baffle, and through the aperture in the baffle toward the light source (17,61). Lighting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the baffle (19, 59) is disposed within the housing (11, 51) beneath the light source (17, 61) with the first surface oriented to reflect a portion of the radiant flux from the light source toward the optical port (23), and includes the aperture (21, 66) in a central upper region thereof for passing radiant flux from the light source (17, 61) therethrough to the ends of the optical fibers (35, 63) aligned with the aperture in the baffle. Lighting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a vent (41, 55) disposed near the upper end of the housing (11, 51) to pass air from within the housing that passed through the aperture in the baffle. Lighting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by a reflector (25) for the light source (17) for concentrating radiant flux therefrom toward ends of optical fibers (35) disposed near the aperture (21) in the baffle (19). Lighting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ends of the optical fibers (35, 63) are supported on the baffle (19, 59) near the lower surface thereof to maintain ends of optical fibers in aligned orientation with the aperture in the baffle. Lighting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a mount (53) near the lower end of the housing (51) for mounting the housing in vertical orientation, the mount including an opening therein for positioning the optical fibers (63) therethrough. Lighting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for a housing (11) that is substantially square, the baffle (19) includes substantially pyramidal first surfaces aligned substantially with the optical port (23) in the housing, and also includes second surfaces tapering toward the aperture (21) for directing air flow therethrough. Lighting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for a housing (51) that is substantially round, the baffle (59) includes a substantially conical first surface aligned substantially with the optical port (66) in the housing (51), and also includes a second surface tapering toward the aperture (66) for directing air flow therethrough. Lighting apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that the baffle (19) includes partial sections oriented about a substantially vertical plane, and the ends of the optical fibers (35) are supported on the baffle (19) below the aperture (21) in the baffle for retaining ends of optical fibers in substantial alignment with the vertical plane. A method for lighting optical fibers and surrounding region from a unit having a light source (17, 61) within a housing (11, 51) that is disposed in use in substantially vertical orientation, the ends of optical fibers (35, 63) being supported within the housing in a selected alignment, one portion of light flux from the light source (17, 61) being focused on the ends of the optical fiber (35, 63) in alignment therewith, and another portion of the radiant flux from the light source being directed out of the housing. The method of claim 11 characterized in that ambient air is admitted into the housing and in that air moves within the housing and is concentrated around the ends of optical fibers (35) positioned to receive the one portion of radiant flux from the light source (17). The method according to claim 12, characterized in that ambient air is admitted into the housing (11,51) near the lower end thereof; and in that the light source (17) is positioned near the upper end of the housing to direct radiant flux therefrom downwardly within the housing toward the ends of the plurality of optical fibers (35) that are positioned to receive the one portion of the light flux that is focused thereon. The method according to claim 12 or claim 13 characterized in that the moving air is directed about the ends of the optical fibers (35) and therefrom toward the light source (17) to cool the light source, and in that the moving air is vented from within the housing after cooling the light source. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that a central portion of the radiant flux from the light source (17) is focused on ends of optical fibers (35) positioned within the housing (11,51) at a location at which moving air is concentrated to flow around the ends. The method according to claim 11 characterized in that the plurality of optical fibers (35) are supported within the housing (11,51) with the ends of optical fibers aligned with the one portion of the radiant flux from the light source (17), and with the ends of the optical fibers (35) positioned near the concentration of moving air. The method according to claim 13 characterized in that the plurality of optical fibers (35) are routed through the lower end of the housing. The method according to claim 14 characterized in that a baffle (19,59) having first and second opposed surfaces is disposed within the housing (11,51) for concentrating moving air via the second surface of the baffle to flow about ends of optical fibers (35) that are supported relative to the baffle (19,59) to receive the one portion of the radiant flux from the light source (17), and in that another portion of the radiant flux from the light source is reflected out of the housing via the first surface of the baffle.

Inventors: KACHERIA NILESH P, KACHERIA, NILESH P.
Applicants: FIBERSTARS INC, FIBERSTARS, INC.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: F21V8
IPC codes: F21V29, F21V8